Land Conservation and Tree Preservation Awards

As part of our
continuing efforts to recognize outstanding achievements in protecting
our natural resources, Fairfax County Department of Public Works and
Environmental Services invites nominations for the Land Conservation
Awards Erosion and Sediment Control and Tree Preservation and Planting. These awards honor
developers, engineering firms, site superintendents and contractors whose
projects best demonstrate excellence in erosion and sediment control
design and implementation and/or a commitment to tree preservation and
planting in Fairfax County. Award winners are honored in a ceremony each
January. The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental
Services, in cooperation with the Northern Virginia Soil and Water
Conservation District and the Fairfax Tree Commission, sponsor the annual
awards program.

History and Background:

The Land Conservation Awards program was established during the early
1970s through combined efforts with the United States Department of
Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, together with the
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and Department of
Public Works and Environmental Services, to provide incentives for
developers to participate in reducing erosion at their construction sites
and to publicly recognize construction sites with the best erosion and
sedimentation control plans that were correctly implemented and properly
maintained. Then in the early 1980s, the Tree Preservation and Planting
Awards were added to the program to recognize developers who have done an
outstanding job of preserving trees and/or incorporating landscaping into
their sites

During the period of the early 1970s, Fairfax County and its partner
agencies took the lead in Virginia to establish erosion and sedimentation
control standards for construction sites, and the county Board of
Supervisors signed an agreement to participate in the watershed
management program referred to as Public Law 566. That watershed
management program was designed to minimize flooding and reduce erosion
within the Pohick Creek Watershed by requiring that certain minimum
standards of erosion and sedimentation control measures be installed
and maintained at construction sites. It also required localities to
provide training opportunities for members of the private and public
sectors that would be designing, reviewing and approving erosion and
sedimentation plans, installing and maintaining the approved measures and
inspecting the installations.

Erosion
and Sediment Control Category

Nominations are solicited for Erosion and Sediment Control. Any
individual, firm, or an organization that has observed superior efforts
of a developer, engineering firm, site superintendent, contractor or a
property owner and believes that such efforts are worthy of recognition
may submit a nomination. To be eligible for a Land Conservation Award –
Erosion and Sediment Control Awards, nominations should cite points of
excellence that form the basis of the requested recommendation.

Contact: If you have questions or need reasonable ADA
accommodations, contact:

Skip Raynor
Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
Land Development Services, Site Development and Inspections
Division
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 535
Fairfax, VA 22035-5503
Phone 703-324-1496, TTY 711; Fax 703-324-8359Email

Tree Preservation and Planting Category

Tree Preservation and Planting Awards are presented in two categories:

Awards for Tree Preservation are presented to recognize those
developers and builders who have done an outstanding job of preserving
trees on a project they have constructed. Nominees shall have made a
commitment toward tree preservation during the planning stages by
designing the project to preserve the maximum number and the most
suitable trees possible given the existing resources and site
constraints. This commitment shall have been further demonstrated
by ensuring the installation, maintenance and honoring of tree
protective devices throughout construction of the project to achieve
the planned preservation.

Awards for Tree Planting and Landscaping are presented to
recognize those developers who have done an outstanding job of
replacing trees that were unavoidably destroyed due to development.
Nominees shall have made a commitment toward tree conservation in
planning and implementation by planting the most suitable species based
on post-development conditions and providing for the long-term survival
of planted trees. Planting to take advantage of energy
conservation opportunities, provide air and/or water quality benefits,
and wildlife benefits; as well as use of native species and improved
cultivars and varieties, will also be taken into consideration in this
category.

Nominations: Nominations are accepted July 1 - Sept. 30.

Contact: If you have questions or need reasonable ADA
accommodations, contact:

Tiffany Thrasher
Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
Land Development Services, Site Development and Inspections
Division
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 535
Fairfax, VA 22035-5503
Phone 703-324-1770, TTY 711; Fax 703-324-8359Email